Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China

China: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 80.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
80.5%
World rank
2nd
of 113 countries
All-time high
86.2%
in 2001
All-time low
13.5%
in 1970
Years of data
23
1970–2017

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China, 1970–2017

204060801970199320171970: 13.5 % of women ages 15-491971: 17.3 % of women ages 15-491972: 22.5 % of women ages 15-491973: 28.4 % of women ages 15-491974: 34.4 % of women ages 15-491975: 40.6 % of women ages 15-491976: 45.2 % of women ages 15-491977: 48.4 % of women ages 15-491978: 50.2 % of women ages 15-491979: 53.7 % of women ages 15-491980: 54.6 % of women ages 15-491981: 54.7 % of women ages 15-491982: 58.2 % of women ages 15-491983: 64.2 % of women ages 15-491984: 66.3 % of women ages 15-491985: 66.2 % of women ages 15-491986: 65.7 % of women ages 15-491987: 69.3 % of women ages 15-491988: 73.2 % of women ages 15-491997: 83.3 % of women ages 15-492001: 86.2 % of women ages 15-492006: 84 % of women ages 15-492017: 80.5 % of women ages 15-49

Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of women ages 15-49.

Analysis

The most recent figure for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China is 80.5%, measured in 2017.

That represents a change of down 4.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China peaked at 86.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.5%, in 1970.

China ranks 2nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 35.4% 13.5% 53.7% 10
1980s 63.6% 54.6% 73.2% 9
1990s 83.3% 83.3% 83.3% 1
2000s 85.1% 84.0% 86.2% 2
2010s 80.5% 80.5% 80.5% 1

Countries ranked near China

  1. 1 Finland 81.6% compare
  2. 3 Germany 80.2% compare
  3. 4 Czechia 77.6% compare
  4. 5 Nicaragua 77.4% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China?
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China was 80.5% in 2017, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 86.2% in 2001.
What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 13.5% in 1970.
How does China rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
China ranks 2nd out of 113 countries with data for 2017.
Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods
Unit
% of women ages 15-49
Source
Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
113 places, 1,022 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

Estimated share of women using contraceptive methods, among those aged 15–49 and married or in union. This is compared between modern methods and any method (modern or traditional).